Thousands attend anniversary parade at Winneba

Winneba, (C/R), March 8, GNA- An all-time record of about 10,000 people took part in this year's independence anniversary parade held at the AME Zion School park at Winneba on Tuesday.

A group of elderly people, including an 80-year old woman, Madam Esi Edjorkoh, alias Madam Mary Tetteh, who spoke to the Ghana News Agency at the parade grounds, expressed their appreciation to the Government and the entire citizenry for contributing in diverse ways to make the Golden Jubilee celebrations a success.

According to Mr. J. K. Quansah, a 69-year-old Agent of the National Lotteries, this is the first time in 50 years of Ghana's political emancipation that he had witnessed such an unprecedented crowd participating actively and enthusiastically in an annual independence anniversary celebration held in Winneba.

Madam Edjorkoh, who was nicely dressed with a cover cloth she purchased some 51 years ago, with pictures of the first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah printed in it, was particularly happy that Dr. Nkrumah, Dr. J. B. Danquah and four others who led the nation to political emancipation had been remembered in grand style.

She advised Ghanaians, especially the youth to cultivate the spirit of hard work, honesty, fellow feeling, coupled with a greater sense of discipline for faster socio-economic and cultural transformation. More than 90 percent of the participants, including school children, workers, security personnel, fishermen, fishmongers, farmers, traders, businessmen and businesswomen, were neatly and splendidly dressed in various types of Jubilee cloths, T-Shirts, Necklaces, earrings among others, to climax the occasion.

Reverend J. K. Aggrey, an opinion leader at Winneba who took part in the march pass, appealed to the Government to reactivate the Pomadfze Poultry Enterprise to create jobs for the unemployed youth in the area. Rev. Aggrey also stressed the need for the Government to provide better salariesd and service conditions for teachers to encourage them to give of their best at all times.

He commended the Awutu-Effutu-Senya District Chief Executive, Solomon Kwashie Abbam-Quaye, for his unyielding determination to improve the lot of the people and called for maximum support and co-operation of all and sundry.

Earlier, The D. C. E. had read the Presidential message to the people and charged them to shun all forms of negative tendencies and focus their energies, Funds and time towards national goals.

Awards were presented to some selected people, including school children who excelled in various fields of endeavour during the past year. 08 March 07